Trump's New Travel Ban: Separating Families and Sparking Outrage

President Trump's new travel ban, affecting citizens from 12 countries, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, went into effect on Monday, June 9, 2025. The ban includes a complete restriction on entry for citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, heightened restrictions apply to individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside the U.S. and lack valid visas. The ABC7 Chicago report from O'Hare International Airport captures the impact on travelers. Ednerson Jean Baptiste, a Haitian-American immigrant, shared his perspective: "As immigrants, we know what it's like to work hard. We're not here to cause trouble; we're here to help and build the economy." Several refugee organizations are already taking legal action against the administration. The ban raises concerns about family separations and potential impacts on adoptions.